The English We Speak

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To have all your Christmases come at once

Episode 181224
/ 24 Dec 2018

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Summary

For many, Christmas makes us feel happy and excited. Imagine getting that feeling many times over – well you can with the phrase that Rob's about to explain. Find out how having good fortune means having all your Christmases at the same time!

Transcript

FeifeiHello and welcome to The English We Speak. I'm Feifei…

RobAnd I’m Rob. And I am so excited.

FeifeiOh yeah? Why's that, Rob?

RobYou know, Feifei – it's that festive time of year – presents, parties, time with the family, snow… did I mention presents?

FeifeiYes, Rob. It's Christmas time.

RobCome on, Feifei – aren't you excited? Imagine if we had lots of Christmases all at the same time!

FeifeiOh no, think of the cost of buying all those presents.

RobBut hopefully you'd receive lots of presents too! Anyway, do you know that for some people, all their Christmases can come at once?

FeifeiI don't think so!

RobOK, well, they're not really Christmases, but if someone has extreme good fortune, it's like the feeling of having lots of Christmases all at the same time.

FeifeiGot it. Having all your Christmases come at once just means 'having lots of good luck'.

RobYes! Let's hear from some people who've had all their Christmases come at once – lucky them!

ExamplesYeah! I got a pay rise and I'm off on holiday tomorrow, and I've won the lottery! It seems like all my Christmases have come at once!

The day I got married, I heard I'd passed my exams and got a promotion, so it felt like all my Christmases had come at once.

All my Christmases have come at once: my parents bought me a new car, I got a place at university and I've got a new girlfriend!

FeifeiThis is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English and we're learning about the phrase 'to have all your Christmases come at once' – which means 'to have extreme good fortune'. Did you know, Rob, that I've had lots of good luck?

RobNo, what's happened?

FeifeiWell, I've been invited to a big swanky Christmas party tonight, I'm going skiing at the weekend and you've bought me an amazing Christmas present.

RobHave I?

FeifeiYes, in that box over there.

RobOh, that's not for you. Sorry. It looks like not all of your Christmases have arrived!